Thirteen people die, 31 injured when tour bus crashes into semi-truck in California

2016-10-24 2

PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA — Several people were killed and dozens more injured in a bus crash in California on Sunday morning.

The Desert Sun reports that a USA Holiday tour bus was returning to Los Angeles from the Red Earth Casino near the Salton Sea early Sunday.

It was 5 a.m., and almost all of the 43 passengers on board were asleep. As the bus drove westbound along Interstate 10, it crashed hard into a semi-truck just near Palm Springs.

The bus plowed about 15 feet into the semi, completely demolished the front of the vehicle. Thirteen people died as a result, including the driver.

Thirty-one others survived the terrifying ordeal. They were rescued from the wreckage and treated for their injuries.

Authorities are investigating the crash and have yet to determine whether it was caused by a mechanical failure, or by the driver falling asleep or suffering an attack.